[Does it still haunt you?
That you killed all those people. How can you stand being around all those orphans?
You killed their parents. They had to watch their care givers die in most horrible ways.
Do you think taking care of them will do anything?
When they find out you are the one who killed everyone......
They'd hate you.]
Cloud flung up in a cold sweat. Once he realized where he was, screams echoed in his room.
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Tifa froze as Cloud's screams. A glass fell from her hand and shattered. She sighed as the screams died into sobs. He got up too fast. After that accident you would think he'd know not to get up.
It was a strange accident. Fenreal had lots of scratches and... bullet holes. Cloud himself had nichs and cuts and a large gash where his head met with a rock. His arms were completely bruised, his ribs felt almost like mush.
What had that boy gotten himself into this time..?
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Cloud held his stomach in pain. Tears formed every time he breathed. It was too much pain to endure at points. He screamed again when his arm touched the soft skin of his black and blue chest. He wished he didn't wake up. Just sleep until he was fully healed again.
But then again he wished he didn't survive the crash.
Who were those men anyway? [There we go Cloud, think of something besides the pain.] he gritted his teeth when he tried to roll over onto his back. Every tremor sent a new wave of tears. Where was Tifa? He needed some Cure3 pronto. Maybe even some FullCure.
"Happy thoughts.... happy thoughts...." He whispered to himself as he tried to situate himself into a position that was the least about of pain. No happy thoughts found him.
[Those men.... They looked so much like him.... Those same cold catlike eyes... same silver hair..... Are... they clones? Perfected clones? No.... All the clones were killed.... It wouldn't make sense if two lived.....] Cloud stared at the ceiling. [No sense at all.... Who is.... 'Onii-san'?]
"Cloud?" A soft young boy's voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked to the side where the door was. A boy stood. Soft curls framed the young fragile looking child's face. His eyes somewhat sunk in as if he were sick.
"Denzel... What's wrong?"
"You were screaming..." Denzel figgited with his shirt. "Are you ok? When Barret came back with you, we all thought you weren't going to make it... You looked really beat up...."
"I'm.... Ok... I just can't move very well..." Cloud turned his head to stare at the ceiling again and closed his eyes.
"Can... I crawl into bed with you?"
"Sure just be careful ok?" Denzel nodded and crawled under the covers. He curled up next to Cloud. Cloud wrapped an arm around the boy and pulled him closer to reassure that he was all right. Just was being a wussie.
Cloud felt the most guilt over Denzel. The boy suffered the most. Not only did the boy loose his parents to Meteor, but he contracted Geo-Stygma. Taking care of the boy was Cloud's top priority, pain or no pain.
"Cloud?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm not hurting you am I?"
"No."
"Ok..." Denzel snuggled against Cloud's shoulder. If Cloud smiled his face would be lit up. Slowly they both drifted into sleep.
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"Cloud's been hurt pretty bad." Tifa spoke to the phone in a low tone. "I'm worried. Fenreal was covered with bullet holes. What if that meeting was a trap?"
"Cloud would have realized that before he went to it."
"Hmmmmm....."
"What's wrong Tifa?"
"Cloud... hasn't been himself lately...."
"How so?"
"He.... is getting more and more distant. I think he feels it's his fault."
"For everything that has happened? He is not the one in fault. Tell him this. He made up for his past mistakes by killing Sephiros."
"He regrets that too...."
"Killing that man?! He freed his poor trapped soul from Jenova. He has been reunited with the mother that deserved him. If anything Cloud did Sephiros the best favour he could ask for. Peace."
"But..."
"Tifa..... Cloud is in a state of disary and all you can do is find ways where you don't have to deal with it. Am I correct?"
"Yes but...."
"I'll be there in a few days. Cloud needs as much support he can get right now. His mind needs to be repared. With everything that is starting, he'll require more then just us. Call others. I fear that if we don't help him in time, he'll start to think....."
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Cloud woke up to the feel of Denzel stirring. The boy still slept soundly as Cloud slipped his arm from underneath him. Sighing heavily he spoke quiet enough so the boy didn't wake.
"What am I doing?" He shook his head. Carefully he got up, gritting his teeth all the way. He walked over to his materia chest and pulled out FullCure. After he cured himself he got dressed. Looking into the mirror he spoke again.
"If I take this threat head on, how I am.... I'll die.... Not like it matters..... I can't protect anyone anymore..... I don't deserve to live...."
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Tifa gasped as the voice on the other line finished speaking. She knew he was right.... Cloud already felt that way once.... he could feel it again.
And this time there would be no Aerith to stop him.